Vibratory current interrupter



May 7, 1935. w. A. wHlPPLE VIBRATORY CURRENT INTERRUPTER Filed Jan. 28,1932 w//f// X n w n @y W .M J1. mv S TA%/////////////////////////////////% H win/M Patented May 7, 1935 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to means whereby unii'ormcontrol and regulation of the current in a high frequency generator isprovided; the invention being moreV especially intended for usejwith ahigh yfrequency generator, employing vacuum electrodes, adapted forelectro-therapeutic purposes and generally known as generator or violetray outt.

My invention pertains construction of the interrupting or regulatingmechanism and to the method of mounting the same so as to provide auniform regulation and at the same time provide for the safe use of theapparatus by eliminating all possibility of causing a shock to the userof the apparatus.

The objects and advantages oi' my invention will be more readilycomprehended -irom the detailed description of the accompanying drawing,wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved interruptor or regulatingmechanism designed for use with a. high frequency generator or violetray apparatus; a shown in section.

Figure 2 isan elevation as viewed substantially at right angles toFigure 1, with housing omitted.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line3--3 of Figure 2 as viewed by the erro a high frequency Figure 4 is across-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 oi Figure 2, lookingdownwardly.

As previously stated, my invention relates to control means intendedmore particularly for electrodtherapeutic apparatus involving highfrequency coils which are mounted in a suitable housing, a portion oi'which is shown at `A in Figure l. The 'housing or shell is made ofnonconducting material and generally of tubular shape to .enable thesame to be easily held 'by the user; the control mechanism, whichinvolves my invention, being secured at one end of the housing, whilethe opposite end (not shown) is provided with a socket arranged toreceive the well known types of vacuum electrodes adapted to be appliedto the body of the user.

The housing is provided with the well known type of resonator coil andmagnet coil insulatedly arranged at predetermineddistances apart withinthe housing; but as the coils and their arrangements form no part oi myinvention illustration thereof has not been made and theretore detaileddescription of these elements need not be entered into. r

My :improved vibratory current interruptor is preferably intended `to bemounted in one end oi' thehousing adjacent to the end of'one o! theysuitably encased or wrapped coils. This coil, which is usually suitablysecured to an h'isulating plate or disc Ii, has its metallic core, ofwhich a portion is shown at II, disposed through the more particularlyto the portion of ythe housing beingv disc I and slightly to ltheopposite side in order to permit the -vibrator element I2 to makecontact therewith.

The vibrator element I2, comprising .a suitable metallic annular plateor disc, is mounted `on the free end o1' a leaf spring I3, whosedownwardly bent end I4 is secured on the insulating disc or plate II),as shown 1in Figures 1 and 4.

element I2 is provided with an upstanding stud or contact point I6,shown disposed centrally above `the element I2 and the coil core II; thespring I3 normally tending to yieldingly hold the element I2 in slightspaced relation with the coil-core IYI as shown.

Mounted on the insulating plate or disc III is a resilient plate or leafspring I6, disposed transversely of the disc and over the contact pointI5; the lends of the spring I6 being bowed as shown at I'I, -II andthence disposed in a vertical direction downwardly as at Il, I8, andthese ends suitably secured on the insulating disc I0, as at I9.

The main ktransverse portion of the spring I6 on its lower face iscentrally provided with a contact element or ypoint 20. The element 20,like element I6, is provided with a iiat contact forming face or end;and this element 20 is normally heldin slight spaced relation withcontact element or point I5 by the action oi spring plate I6, as shownin Figure 3.

` As lis apparent from the construction, spring IS is adapted to ilexdownwardly as indicated in Figure l, for the desired current flow intothe vacuum electrodes of the apparatus; the strength of the currentbeing controlled or regulated by the adjustable relation between thecontact elements or points 20 and I5 and the coil core II.

That is to say, when the spring I6 is in normal non-flexed condition andthe contact element or point 20 held in its maximum spaced relation as`shown in Figure 3, the circuit between contact element or point i5 andpoint 'l0 is open, at which time contact point Ii is also in maximumspaced relation with the core II of the upper coil in the housing, thusailecting current flow into the vacuum electrode at the opposite end ofthe holder or housing; the flow of current being efifectedr and itsystrength regulated by the regulated relation between contact elementsor points 20 and Ii and the relation of the latter to the core II.

'Ihe insulating plate or disc with a pair of upright curedr thereto anddisposedupwardly above the plane of the spring member It.

The upper ends of the posts 2|, 2| support a transversely disposed platevor bar 22, which s provided with an internally threaded sleeve 23rigidly secured, in any suitable manner, against movement.

I0 is shown provided posts 2|, 2|, suitably se- The transverselydisposed plate or bar 22 is intended to be secured on the inner face ofthe end wall a of the housing or shell A; the end wall a having anopening to permit the regulating screw (later described) to extendtherethrough.

The sleeve 23 is provided with an adjusting screw or regulator 24.

The lower end of regulator 24 is preferably provided with a serrated ortoothed annular head or disc portion 25; while the upper end of theadjusting screw or regulator 24 (disposed through the end wall of thehousing) Ais provided with a suitable iinger grasping button or knob 26,preferably composed of suitable non-conducting material. The knob 2B ispreferably threaded on the screw 24 so as to permit assembly of theparts.

The lower end of the adjusting screw 24 is centrally bored to receivethe reduced shank of a fibre or non-conducting stud 21, which isintended to control the spring member I6, as shown in Figure 1.

In order to maintain the regulator 24 and hold it against accidentalrotation, I provide a spring detent 28; one end whereof is immovablysecontact members or points I5 end wall cured to one of the posts 2I,while the free end is formed to frictionally bear against and engagebetween the serrations or teeth of member 25.

The device, of course, is provided with a suitable cord or wire(preferably disposed through the end wall of the housing) for conductingcurrent to the coils and the spring members I3 and It are eachelectrically connected with the coils within the housing of the device,so that both and 20 are electrically charged when the current supplycord or wire of the device is plugged into a suitable socket or switch.In devices of this character as heretofore constructed, the contactpoint 20 was directly attached or operatively secured to the adjustingscrew or regulator 24 thus also having the screw or regulatorelectrically charged.

As these devices are manually operated and therefore held in the hand ofthe user-and as the control screw of necessity extends through the ofthe housing of the device to receive the iinger control or knob 26,-theuser was frequently subjected to dangerous shocks.

With my improved construction, all danger of such shocks is entirelyeliminated because the regulating or control screw is not electricallycharged but has an insulated or non-conducting control contact with theelectrically charged contact holding spring member I 6, through themedium of the iiber or non-conducting stud 21.

In the constructions as heretofore employed, with the contact pointdirectly secured to the bottom of the adjusting screw, it thereforerotated with the screw, and after use the contacts not only became wornby reason of the rotative movement of the upper contact point, butproper adjustment and current flow were impossible because of the unevenwear resulting from the frictional rotative movement, thereby preventinga full face relation between the two contact points.

With my improved construction, this diiculty is eliminated and the uppercontact point 20 is moved bodily toward the lower contact point I5,because the contact holdingy spring member IB is supported at both endsby similar depending ends I8 of the spring member I6; the main centralportion of the member I6 being forced downwardly by the insulator stud21, causing the entire bottom end of point 20 to approach the lowercontact point I5 and thereby providesra uniform regulation of thecurrent for the vacuum electrodes.

By forming the spring member I6 as shown, with both depending ends equaland secured in place, it is apparent that the upper contact point is notmade to move through the arc of a circle during its movement toward thelower contact point, but moves bodily in a vertical direction and hencepresents its full face or lower end to the lower contact point I5.

With my improved construction, a uniform regulation of current is notonly provided, but all danger of receiving an electric shock by the userwhile adjusting the regulating screw is impossible because the latter isfully insulated from the electrically charged elements of the device;while at the same time a longer lived device is provided because thecontact points are not subjected to the grinding or frictional wearencountered in the devices as heretofore made wherein the upper contactpoint is carried by the adjusting screw and therefore is rotated on theupper face of the lower contact point I5.

In describing the particular embodiment of my invention, terms have beenemployed for purposes of description and not as terms of limitation, asmodifications may be made without, however, departing from the spirit ofmy invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described involving coils, a vibratorycurrent interrupter comprising the combination of a pair of contactpoints; means whereby one of said points is yieldingly held in normalspaced relation with a terminal of one of the coils; means whereby theother contact point is yieldingly held spaced and in axial alignmentwith the first mentioned contact point and consisting of a leaf springbent to provide the underside whereof and intermediate of opposite endssaid contact point is afiixed, the ends of said spring being curved backbeneath and substantially parallel with the contact point carryingportion while the immediate ends are then l1 bent downwardly intosupporting legs disposed vertically between the vertical planes of thecurved ends whereby the horizontally disposed contact holding portion isfree to flex and move bodily; and a regulating member adjustably securedabove said contact holding portion and provided at its lower end with aremovable nonconducting stud adapted to engage the horizontally disposedportion of the leaf spring and thereby force said portion with itscontact point 13 toward the iirst mentioned contact point.

2. In a device of the character described involving coils, a vibratorycurrent interrupter cornprising the combination of a pair of contactpoints; means whereby one of said points is yieldingly held in normalspaced relation with a terminal of one of the coils; a leaf springhaving a flat horizontally disposed contact carrying portion, the endsof the spring being curved back beneath and thence downwardly intosupporting legs; and regulating means composed of an internally threadedsleeve, an adjusting screw disposed through said sleeve and having anaxial bore, and a non-conducting stud removably secured in the bore atthe end of the screw and adapted to engage the horizontally disposedcontact carrying portion.

WILLIS A. WHIPPLE.

a fiat horizontally disposed portion, to i SII

